‘It’s a learning curve.’

A CROWD of 800 plus in the Garenne Stand saw a superbly entertaining game decided by the visitors’ fleet-footed backs.
The home side have been hit hard by early season injuries and as they slipped 14-5 behind in the first period they suffered another big blow with the loss of Anthony Armstrong, last year’s player of the year.
To make matters worse winger Daley Aremu also limped off.
Another indication to Guernsey’s ill luck came early in the second half as Alex Gow’s 35 yard penalty dropped onto the bar and fell out.
However, Worthing made a hash of clearing, conceded a penalty under their own posts and from the scrum close in, Matt Thomas touched down as the dominant pack pushed Worthing back.
Gow converted for 12-14.

Worthing restored the advantage as winger Jack Maslen raced on to his own kick and with nobody at home completed an easy score.
The stand off McLean’s conversion made it 12-21.
Two minutes later on 52min, Maslen scored again after an electric burst down the far touchline set him up and an easy conversion made it 12-28.
A trademark Guernsey catch and drive move brought a try for Douglas Horrocks on 59min and with Gow converting it was 19-28.
Raiders forced another penalty and following Gow’s kick for the corner and after several phases with the play moving towards the posts, skipper Lewis Hillier dived over and Gow added two easy points for 26-28 with 13 min left plus added time.
Worthing stand off McLean settled matters though, dinking a clever kick over the defence and had the pace to get onto it and score. His conversion made it 35-26 and the points safe.
Worthing were down to 14 for the last five, plus stoppages, a period which saw a poor lineout throw cost Guernsey any chance of a losing bonus point.

Before the game head coach Jordan Reynolds said it was important to find a new identity and play a system ‘that works for us’.
But while there were many things to admire against the Worthing the defence cover was again a weak area and needs to be remedied quickly.
The coach lamented: ‘If we’d stuck to the game plan, we would have won that game,’ he said.
Worthing were deserved winners though.
‘They took their chances well and I’m not here to take anything away from them,’ he added.
‘The effort was there from us, I think. We just weren’t right on the money and that’s all that matters. ‘It’s a learning curve.’